"Sign this. We're done." Aaliyah Monroe thought she’d found love with a rising billionaire, Henry Smith—until he blindsided her with divorce papers on their fourth anniversary, revealing her twin sister, Aurora, as his true love. Betrayed and cast out, Aaliyah drowns her fury in a nightclub, where she meets Orrin Hayes, a billionaire mogul who falls for her instantly. He offers her a deal– “Aaliyah, I’m smitten. You’re fire, and I want to burn. Marry me.” She froze as her heart tripped. “What?” “Not for love, not yet,” he said with his eyes glinting. “A deal. You want revenge on Henry and Aurora? I’ve got the power to crush them. Marry me, and I’m yours—my money, my connections, my everything. We’ll make them beg.” She stared, the whiskey clouded her head but not her judgment. The idea was insane, but it lit a spark. Henry’s face on that stage and Aurora’s smirk—they deserved to fall. And Orrin? He was a weapon, wrapped in charm and danger. “You’re serious?” she asked, testing him. “Dead serious.” He took her hand into his, gently. “I’m half in love with you already. Say yes, and we’ll shake the world.” She laughed, the sound was shaky but real. “You’re crazy. But… okay. Yes.” Aaliyah agreed. But there was one thing she was yet to inform this charming yet mischievous Billionaire suggesting marriage to her– she's carrying her ex husband’s child. Will she successfully use him to climb the ladder and get her revenge despite having a child for her ex-husband? Or will a second chance in love surface?
view moreAaliyah's POV
The elevator opened, and I stepped into the sleek, glass-walled penthouse floor of Smith Enterprises, clutching a velvet box with a chocolate fudge cake—Henry’s favorite. Today was a special day. It was my husband's birthday. My heart fluttered, a nervous rhythm against the silk of my dress. I had planned this surprise for weeks, picturing his green eyes lighting up just the way they used to when he’d pull me close. The office was dim, the city skyline glittering beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. I paused at the reception desk, expecting to see Margaret, Henry’s assistant, but it was empty. Then a murmur drifted from his corner office. I looked and found the door slightly ajar. My heels clicked softly on the marble as I approached. “Henry, you have to do it,” a woman’s voice purred, low, insistent and slicing through the quietness. My breath caught as I froze just outside the door, hidden by the shadow of a potted fern. “I know,” Henry replied, his voice was a familiar rumble, but sharper and strained. “I will.” "When?” she pressed with a coaxing and almost mocking tone. “You’ve been dragging this out, darling. Aaliyah’s nothing but a placeholder. You know that already. You need to kick that bitch out." My chest tightened as soon as I heard my name and the insult following it. The cake box felt as heavy as lead as I inched closer, peeping into the room. Henry stood by his desk, his dark brown hair catching the lamplight as his broad shoulders tensed up. A woman leaned against him, her back to me. She had short blonde hair spilling over her red dress. I couldn’t see her face, but her hand traced his jaw, intimately and possessively. "I’ll divorce her,” Henry said flatly, his words a blade to my heart. “I promise. Tomorrow, on our anniversary. It’ll be clean.” I gripped the box harder as I felt the world spin around me. The woman laughed; a soft, cruel sound. "Perfect. You belong with me, Honey. Always have.” She pulled him down, and their lips met, a kiss that was all hunger and passion. My vision blurred, tears stinging as I watch my husband—my Henry—kiss another woman with his hands gripping her waist like he once gripped mine. The cake box slipped from my fingers, crashing to the floor with a dull thud. Chocolate smeared the floor, ruining the marble like this unexpected scene had ruin my hopes. They didn't hear the cake falling to the floor though, they're too lost in each other. I stumbled back and flee to the elevator with tears streaming down my face. The doors closed, leaving me alone with my heart shattered and the city lights mocking me through the glass. Now at home, I paced the living room, my blue eyes red-rimmed and my long blonde hair tangled from running my hands through it. I was going insane. The clock ticked past midnight and Henry’s birthday faded into our anniversary. Fourth anniversary. I should confront him. I ought to demand answers. But the image of that kiss burnt my heart each and every time. It was choking my courage. Why is he doing this? What have I done to deserve this from him? I've done nothing but love this man all the four years we've been together after my foster parents arranged my marriage with him. God, Why now? I tried so hard to stop the tears gathered in my eyes from flowing down. Soon, the front door clicked open, and Henry strided in, his tailored suit impeccable but his hazel eyes icy. It's been like that for the past two weeks now. Since the day he came home and asked why I never told him about my twin sister, Aurora, a part of me I've been trying so hard to forget for many years. He's been cold to me since then, devoid of warmth, as if I betrayed him or something by not telling him about the identical twin sister I had. “Aaliyah,” he called, barely glancing at me as he tossed his keys onto the console. “Why are you still up?” I opened my mouth, the words ‘Who was she?’ clawing at my throat, but they died easily under his cold stare. “I… I wanted to see you,” I stammered. I hate my weakness. I hate it more than anything . “It’s your birthday.” He snorted, loosening his tie. “Don’t bother. I’m tired.” He brushed past me, heading for the stairs, his scent—cedar and betrayal—lingering. “Henry, wait,” I called, “Can we talk? Please?” He paused with one hand on the banister and his chiseled jaw tight. “Not tonight,” he snapped before disappearing upstairs, leaving me in the silence of our crumbling marriage. With his promise to divorce me echoing in my ears, I sunk onto the couch, curled into myself and my mind spiralled. Today is our anniversary, and I’ll wait, like a fool, hoping for a miracle, dreading the truth I already know.Lisa’s POVFor a moment, the three of us stood frozen—me, Jace, and Kaito.The tension was so thick it felt like I could slice through it with a knife.“You’re fucking my friend now?”My chest tightened as heat crept up my neck. What do I do now? Defend myself or just shut up? Because the last thing I wanted to do now was give Kaito the impression that I wasn't infuriated by him and let him into my life so easily again.Jace, however, didn’t flinch. If anything, the corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk and it only made Kaito’s jaw tighten more.“Nice to see you too, man,” Jace said casually, as if this wasn’t about to turn into a full-blown fight.“Don’t play games with me, Jace.” Kaito’s voice was low, almost a growl. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on Jace’s. “So this is how you want to ruin our friendship?”Jace didn’t move. His hands slipped easily into his pockets and his posture remained calm but his gaze darkened.“Ruin our friendship?” he echoed. “Do you really th
Lisa’s POVJace didn't come back.I had stayed there longer than I should have, telling myself I just needed more time to relax. But truthfully? I’d been waiting. Hoping he’d walk back in, maybe with an apology, maybe with some sort of explanation.But the door stayed closed.Finally, I sighed, dragging myself out of the pool. I wrapped a towel around me, the soft cotton soaking against my damp skin as I padded toward the private room where my clothes were kept.I pulled the bikini strings loose and began slipping into my shirt with my back to the door.Then I felt it. That prickle at the back of my neck.I froze, glancing up at the mirror—and there he was, standing by the doorway.The nerve of him to appear now, silent as a cat, as if he hadn’t left me hanging for over an hour.“Look who’s back after disappearing,” I said with an evident grudge in my tone. I turned to face him fully, not caring that my shirt was still halfway on.He didn’t even flinch at my tone. “Look, I—”“Don’t y
Lisa’s POV“So I thought you would need it tonight too.”And damn it, he was right.Swimming always cleared my head. I never thought he'd have me this figured though, just from that one night. Well, it sure was obvious.This man had flown across an ocean for me—and booked an entire pool just so I could swim my sorrows away.I don't why but my mind drifted to Kaito. I bet he knows how much I love swimming since all the stories of my past I've told him revolved around that but he'd never seem interested.I folded my arms across my chest, trying to ignore how much that thought made my chest heavy.“So, this is your grand plan to make me feel better?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “A pool?”“You’re welcome,” he replied easily, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked toward me. “I figured it was either this or take you to a bar and get you drunk. I’m trying to be a gentleman here.”I snorted, crossing my arms tighter. “Gentleman? Isn't that rich for you?”His mouth curved into a la
Lisa’s POVWhen I looked up and realised that the rain had stopped, I stayed on my knees anyway, staring at the slick pavement as if it could give me answers. My wet clothes clung to me, cold and heavy, and my fingers trembled slightly as I pressed them to my forehead.What did I just do?Call my lover’s friend and ask him to fly over for me? Was I insane?I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Great job, Lisa. Truly spectacular.”And then what? When Jace actually got here—if he ever did—was I supposed to waltz up to Kaito and say, ‘Hey, by the way, I’m onto your friend now’?I sighed and buried my face in my hands, feeling ridiculous.Now that my heart wasn’t clawing at my ribs and the ache in my chest had dulled to a low throb, reality was crashing in.Jace wasn’t coming. He probably just said that to make me feel better.Right?With a long exhale, I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the stiffness in my legs. My shoes squelched against the wet pavement as I walked back toward
Lisa’s POVThe moment I stepped out of that restaurant, all I wanted was to get away. Far away from how pathetic I felt.The tears I’d stubbornly held back burned behind my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. Not yet. Not where anyone could see.I reached my car, fumbling for my keys and forcing my breathing to even out. Just drive home, Lisa. Forget this ever happened.I slid into the driver’s seat, tossed my bag aside, and jammed the key into the ignition.The engine coughed weakly before going dead.I tried again, twisting harder this time, as if sheer force could bring it back to life. Nothing but a low whine.“Come on,” I muttered through clenched teeth, trying again. And again.The engine sputtered before a sickly puff of gray smoke rose from the hood, seeping through the air vents.I choked and coughed as I shoved the door open and stumbled out.The moment my shoes hit the pavement, I felt it.The rain I hadn't even noticed had started dropping.Heavy, cold drops hit my hair, my
Lisa's POVThe call had ended the way I knew it would."It’s too early for this kind of conversation, Jace," I had told him, in a clipped tone that made me seem like I didn’t care."Yeah, I figured you’d avoid the question one way or another," he had replied, unbothered and with that hint of amusement threading through his words. "But when you finally open your eyes, Lisa… reach out. I’m just a flight away."And then I hung up before he could say anything else.Now, hours later, I was determined to act like that call never happened. I had buried myself in work and for a while, it went as planned. I didn’t think about Jace’s cocky smirk or the quiet challenge in his tone. I didn’t think about Kaito either—who still hadn’t reached out after hours of silence.By the time I wrapped up my day, exhaustion settled into my shoulders, but my mind was still frustratingly alert. I stared at the takeout apps on my phone, thumb hovering over them, before groaning aloud.“No,” I muttered to myse
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